Questions re 99 c5
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
18 posts before the inevitable 2001-2004 suggestion. Facts are facts and we need all of them before making a buying decision. But if you read this forum as much as I do you come to realize that all years have issues whether by design, neglect or luck of the draw. Someday I may own either a Z06 or 01-04 vert but it won't be because I feared the breakdown of some unobtainable part.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 642
Likes: 11
I did the inspection myself when I bought the Vette, but I knew the dealer's (excellent) reputation from years ago when I lived in that town. Still, not the best idea and I'll never take that chance again. When I bought my used Lexus RX recently, the selling dealer was not a Lexus dealer. I took the Lexus to a Lexus dealer who was a rival and not affiliated (i.e. different owner). So they're motivated to tell me why I need to not buy that vehicle. They gave me a short list of items to replace/repair with a buy recommendation. The guy before me got a much different, long expensive list of reasons to pass on the car he was having inspected. I would recommend you find a Chevy dealer in the area who knows Vettes and call ahead and ask for them to inspect it. Chances are they have a program that they run to inspect a car. I know the Lexus program was VERY complete.
when I bought the 92 took it to a vette shop and they went thru it, however I had a list of things that the last owner had replaced so that gave me some insite, but I still had some minor things that needed attention. The car now is in pretty decent shape and up to my standards but it still needs some minor things done. The driver seat wont go back/forth but Im 6'2 so its a good fit. also the left side bose amp needs repair but still plays so Im in no hurry, In short that's the only 2 issues going on and everything else works as it should, so guess Im lucky at this point.
Last edited by lectroglide; Oct 13, 2014 at 03:34 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 454
Likes: 19
From: Prescott AZ
question for out of town buyers>>>>>>>so you had to go out of town to see your potential vehicle, how many here had to take the car for a professional inspection and how many here did the inspection their self? I know reading codes is a must but how did you check out mechanical issues w/o using a shop/garage, or did you just know what to look for?
My $14k / 73k mile 99 now has about 8-9k of fixes, upgrades/mods and improvements.
But it's been worth it.
Conversely my 04 I bought 18 months ago had 29k on it, but I paid $8k more for it. I flew to New Mexico for it, and had a Corvette club president inspect and drive it for two hours. I paid him $100 including quite a few pictures. I have put $6k into it for a new radio/double din, tires, tune up, exhaust, etc as well, though, so I've got around $29k into it total. After the "thumbs up" on the inspection, I made an offer of $21.75k and flew to NM to drive it back to So Cal.
Depends what you want to do, what you can afford to spend. My 99 hasn't had the ECBM issue, so I've been blessed...but it did have F45 shocks I swapped over to Z51 shocks/sway bars, etc and that was a real handling improvement.
Still happy I have around $50 into two nice C5's, though, upgrades done, installed and working right with no issues.
Last edited by ScumOne; Oct 15, 2014 at 06:28 AM.
